You Can Get Right Out

Tonight, I've been studying in the Book of Jude. It's an often ignored book of the Bible chock full of history, warnings about apostasy, false teachers and other cool stuff. The part where it talks about the Archangel Michael arguing with Satan over the bones of Moses caused me to put this comment in my Bible: "Say WHAT? Cool." I promise you this is the only place where I've written "Say WHAT" in my Bible. My mind began to wander and so I began to try to write a little ditty to summarize Jude and write it to the tune of "Hey Jude." That's a work in progress but it reminded me of another time I composed a little ditty set to a different tune. By the way, if you'd like to read one of several posts I've written about false teachers, here's one: If You Miss The Rant-y Donna You'll Love This!

A few years ago, our pastor was preaching a sermon on marriage. The special music that day was (I lie to you not) "We Can Work It Out" Beatles version. If you aren't familiar with the lyrics, here's a sample:

Try to see it my way Do I have to keep on talking Till I can't go on? While you see it your way, Run the risk of knowing that Our love may soon be gone. We can work it out We can work it out

Can you believe it? Not exactly the prescription for a godly marriage. As the worship leader is singing all I can do is think about The Beatles declaring themselves "bigger than God" and here they were being glorified in His house. Plus at the time Michael Jackson owned the song and we know he was not a Christian. So I was LIVID! So I re-wrote it and I thought I'd share a little bit (all I can remember) with you. If you wonder what I'm doing when something in God's house makes me want to be all rant-y but decorum requires me to be quiet, now you know. I'm probably ranting away to some tune in my head.

You Can Get Right Out- Queen Of Nonsense (Now you see how I earned this name) I won't see it your way. Michael Jackson owns this song and he don't love the Lord. Now it's up in my church, And you're ignoring lots of godly really great love songs. We can't work it out. You can get right out.

Yoga in the Church? Unheard of...Absurd...or not?

‎"While an alarming number of Western Christians suppose they can achieve physical and spiritual well-being through a form of yoga divorced from its Eastern worldview, in reality attempts to Christianize Hinduism only Hinduize Christianity" - Hank Hanegraaff


http://www.equip.org/bible_answers/what-is-yoga-

I don't understand why some Christians feel they must embrace yoga. There are many good things you can do to stay in shape that don't come out of false religions. If you've ever been in one of my Bible Study classes, chances are, you've heard what I think about it. I understand that there are many benefits but can't you get those same benefit without opening your mind to these false things? Funny thing, I taught Bible Study classes for a long time at a church where I PREACHED against Christians and YOGA for years. Fifteen minutes after I left, the new staff member's wife was teaching yoga up in that same church and some of my former students were in the class. Obviously they didn't buy my take on it. I understand I have no real standing where exercise is concerned. I'm not concerned about your stretching, but I'm very concerned about the things that are creeping into out theology at the same time we are embracing these things of the world. What do you think? Opening your mind to things God said to stay away from or harmless? You know where I stand, what about you?

As Easter approaches...

Seven Stanzas at Easter
John Updike

Make no mistake: if He rose at all
it was as His body.
If the cells' dissolution did not reverse, the molecules reknit, the
amino acids rekindle,
the Church will fall.

It was not as the flowers,
each soft spring recurrent;
it was not as His Spirit in the mouths and fuddled eyes of the
eleven apostles;
it was as his flesh: ours.

The same hinged thumbs and toes,
the same valved heart
that – pierced – died, withered, paused, and then regathered out of
enduring Might
new strength to enclose.

Let us not mock God with metaphor,
analogy, sidestepping transcendence;
making of the event a parable, a thing painted in the faded credulity
of earlier ages:
let us walk through the door.

The stone is rolled back, not papier mache,
not stone in a story,
but the vast rock of materiality that in the slow grinding of time will
eclipse for each of us
the wide light of day.

And if we will have an angel at the tomb,
make it a real angel,
weighty with Max Planck's quanta, vivid with hair, opaque in the
dawn light, robed in real linen
spun on a definite loom.

Let us not make it less monstrous,
for in our own convenience, our own sense of beauty,
lest, awakened in one unthinkable hour,
we are embarrassed by the miracle,
and crushed by remonstrance.


Source: 'Seven Stanzas at Easter, in Telephone Poles and Other Poems (London: Andre Deutsch, 1964), 72–3.

HGCID & VS...or tell it to Jesus!

Don't you wish you knew the nature of a call before you answer it? I get many calls from people who profess to want help or spiritual guidance, but what they really want is someone to listen and tell them whatever foolishness they're engaged in is OK and then tell them why it's OK with God...when it clearly isn't. Sometimes they just need to tell it to Jesus! So I've invented the Holy Ghost Caller ID and Voicemail System (HGCID & VS) to help with this dilema and to keep myself out of your business when I don't belong there. Coming soon, Holy Spirit Email & Text Message Retrieval and Forwarding Program (HSE&TMRP.) I'm very excited about it.


"Hello, you've reached Donna's new Holy Ghost Caller ID and Voicemail System. Your call will be handled in the manner most appropriate for the nature of the call."

"If you are currently living in continual and unrepentant sin and would like someone to tell you it's OK, or that God would want you to be happy... the Holy Ghost will be routing your call on up the line so you can tell it to Jesus. Neither of us will tell you what you want to hear."

"If you are in the middle of doing something you know is stupid, sinful, hurtful or crazy and want someone to pat you on the back and understand...the Holy Ghost is going to forward you on so you can tell it to Jesus. He will refer you to His Word."

"If you are struggling with some real deep personal issue or have a tragedy that has befallen you but you just want to tell me how much you hate Christians...you're going to be screened by the Holy Ghost and he will tell you to...tell it to Jesus. He will be able to comfort you so much better than me and He won't get mad at other Christians."

"If you have a problem with another Christian and want to 'share' a prayer request(gossip,) if you have a problem with a friend and just need to tell someone the horrible wrong that was done to you so we can all be mad together (gossip) or if you have some news that can't wait (gossip,) the Holy Ghost is going to intercede in this call and send you on to the Boss so you can...(you get it by now) tell it to Jesus."

"If however, you are struggling with anything I can truly help you with, pray over with you, cry over with you, laugh over with you, tell you what God says (and you care to listen,)help you get out of a bad situation, OR if you need to tell me how pretty, smart and witty I am, you can leave a message and I'll get back to you."

Legacy

This morning I'm heavy hearted because a man I love very much has gone to be with the Lord. I'm also rejoicing because I know where he is and I hear the music is fantastic. You see, Tom Myers was the Choir Director for my church growing up and was also the Choral Director at both the Jr. High and High Schools. He's the man who taught me music. I could always sing. I was born singing. But someone had to teach me how to make it beautiful. Someone had to teach me to read and understand music. Someone had to teach me how to make the harmony I always heard in my head work. Someone had to teach me to breathe from my diaphragm, not sing through my nose, warm up my voice, stand up straight,and blend. Someone had to teach me how to enunciate, make a pleasant tone, stay on pitch and all about the round vowels...and let's not talk about the dip-thongs. Someone had to teach me to be a leader. Someone had to give me a family bigger than my nuclear family. Tom Myers did those things. If you were a choir kid, you're family. It doesn't matter if you ever attended school or were even in the youth group at the same time, we're family. He was our musical Father and he called us his "kids." Now our musical Father has gone to be with our Heavenly Father and I believe he's heard, "Well done my good and faithful servant. Enter your rest."


I had the privilege of growing up in a small town full of godly mentors. I had many teachers who cared about me personally. I grew up in a church where generations didn't seem to matter. I was "raised" by Central Baptist Church as well as my parents. They gave us a godly foundation that can't be shaken. They had more musical talent than you could shake a stick at (still do) and during my time, the person who led all that talent was Tom Myers. He also loved all that talent. He delighted in it, I think it would be fair to say. In our schools, he gave us a musical legacy that is hard to beat. We had Sweepstakes choirs. ONLY Sweepstakes choirs. It wasn't optional. He knew the way to instill pride in the now and the future is to remind us of what came before us. Excellence. Nothing else was acceptable. We were trained for excellence. We also took trips every spring break and in the spring, we would put on a Broadway musical. This all required money and strength so we spent a lot of time fundraising and most of us learned to be very good at it. We had a high school choir full of athletes who may not have been the best singers but were ever bit as valuable as hard workers. No choir nerds in our choir. It takes a lot of work and brute strength to sell 40 pound boxes of fruit and build sets. The girls were never excused from hard labor. We were taught that we were every bit as capable and strong as those football players. I chunked a lot of boxes of apples in my day. We also had kids from our church choir in the Texas All-State Baptist Youth Choir every year and there was another trip. I loved our trips.

He hauled us all over the Eastern United States, Mexico and parts of the West, and to an immeasurable number of President's houses (my favorite is still Monticello) and that was just during my years. Those trips were amazing. We started every day with student led prayer and a devotional. The bus didn't roll until it was done. Even then, we were being taught to be godly leaders by example. We weren't given a devotional to read, we were just given the day it would be our turn and we had to do the work. We had the same bus driver all 4 of my years because he like driving us. Why? We were good kids. We didn't have a choice. Nothing but excellence was acceptable, remember. Hauling kids all over the country is not something that can even be done in today's educational climate. His family came with us no matter their age at the time but still, their family vacations were our family vacations. It never occurred to me as a child what it cost him and his family. Mrs. Myers loved us too and she never begrudged us this privilege. She packed up the kids and got on the bus and loved us like he did. I watched her and in her I found a godly example of a wife, mother and woman. He could not have found a better partner. She was truly his partner. I wonder if they ever got to have a family vacation?

Through our musicals, we were taught to be performers. Everyone was included. We auditioned for parts and sometimes you got to learn to be a gracious loser. Sore losers? Never saw one. Those musicals were another thing I looked forward to getting to be old enough to do. As it turns out, I can't act but I can sing a MEAN "who could be mistaken," behind a tombstone in Fiddler. Creative. People came from all around to see these productions because they were excellent. You see the theme.

Over the years,his "kids" have suffered a lot of loss. He attended every funeral he's been physically able to attend. Lately, that's where we've seen one another. The last time we spoke was right after Pam, Kathy and I sang a little Southern Gospel trio at Audrey's Mom's funeral. I broke many vocal and musical laws and I thought he was coming over to give me a critique, as usual. Instead, with a tear in his eye, he gave me a pat on the back and said "good job." He was speaking to all of us. I think there was much more than music wrapped up in it. In my life I've received many "good job's" but that''s the one that means the most because it took a lifetime to earn and it came from someone who meant the world to me.


There was a study done on two families, The Max Jukes family and the Johnathan Edwards family. Max Jukes believed in liberation from laws, no formal education and hated imposed responsibility. By all accounts he was a drunkard and lazy. In contrast, Johnathan Edwards was a man of faith, an evangelist. He was hard working, God-fearing and Bible believing. Edwards "was a godly minister who was credited with igniting The Great Awakening through his sermons. He served for a brief period just before his death as president of what is now known as Princeton University. He believed in leading by example. Of 1026 descendants of Max Juke, 300 were convicts, 27 were murderers, 190 were prostitutes and 509 were either alcoholics or drug addicts. It is estimated that the Jukes had cost the State of New York almost $1.4 million dollars to house, institutionalize and treat the family of deviants. By contrast, the 929 descendents of Jonathan Edwards included 13 college presidents, 86 college professors, 430 ministers, 314 war veterans, 75 authors, 100 lawyers, 30 judges, 66 physicians, and 80 holders of public office, including three U.S. Senators, seven congressmen, mayors of three large cities, governors of three states, a Vice-President of the United States, and a controller of the United States Treasury.

Those are some legacies! I thought I would count the legacy of Tom Myers and his "kids" but even now, one generation later, it's too great to count. The musicians, choral directors, educators, and ministers alone is a staggering number while people who have failed at life are very few. That's a legacy. I know he's proud of every one of us. He wasn't always sunshiny. There were times he was out and out grumpy. In the High School, everyone didn't like him. He didn't care. He wasn't there to be liked. He was there to teach us the music and life. I believe he succeeded. Did I mention I loved this man?

I may have to miss his funeral. If I do, it's because we are taking our family to Washington DC, a place where Mr. Myers took me twice and BECAUSE he took me there twice I developed a love for those historic and patriotic places. They don't have a Mr. Myers so it's our privilege to pass along that love to my kids. I think he would approve. I know he would.

So to Mr. Myers, we bid adieu, for now. And to Jeanette, Nanette, Tommy, Corby and Shannon, I say, "thank you for the music." He couldn't have done any of it without you. I love you guys too. We all do and we share in your grief and your loss. Thank you for allowing us to do so. Thank you for sharing your lives and allowing him to be that musical Father for us. I promise you,it hasn't been wasted.

Like Charlie Brown before me....

The good the bad, the ugly...the crazy, the cult and the Easter Circus

I wrote that last post completely excited to meet with those ladies and maybe get a little Bible Study going at church. I love studying God's Word and I hate biblical illiteracy. I believe God gives us all different passions and mine is definitely in education and discipleship. I'm interested in EVERYTHING and I WANT TO KNOW IT ALL...even though I know I never will.

What has happened since then has been amazing and more than I would have ever asked. Out of that desire to begin a study has come a new "gig" for me. I'm now the Director of Women's Ministries at Pin Oaks Christian Fellowship. Pin Oaks!

I'm honestly not sure how it happened but I do know this, I told God "yes" a couple of years ago when I stopped teaching my High School girls class and decided to begin to prepare to step into ministry. I didn't understand what "prepare" was going to entail. I thought I was going to take classes at the seminary and get certified in Women's Ministry which is the only thing available in my particular case without starting all over. (Which I might do, you never know.) I didn't know the journey would be so, well, hard. If you read this blog, you got to share much of it with me. The good the bad, the ugly...the crazy, the cult and the Easter Circus ((shudder.))

I'm super excited for this new chapter. I've already had so much support and I see God's hand at work. I hope we grow a ministry that is God focused. I don't know why He chooses to use me. He knows I'm going to mess up big time at some point but I also know those are His favorite kind of people. Imperfect. Messy. Willing. Hungry.

At the same time I'm astounded at my prayers that are being answered and the benefit they bring for my church. God is doing amazing things at Pin Oaks. If you don't have a church home, I'd love for you to join us. For a small glimpse at some of those answered prayers, read this from August of 2008. It wasn't ever re-edited and fairly poorly written, but some of you will get the gist. That dream church team isn't such a dream these days. There have been some substitutions but they are great substitutions! We are truly blessed.
Dream Church Team


Wondering about the Easter Circus? That was part of a rant-y rant a few years ago. Got myself all worked up over that one. Easter Circus

Getting the itch

I've been on a ministry hiatus of sorts. It's been a nice time of healing. Much needed. But recently, I've really been missing my ministry. I've been praying that God would lead me and either let me know how to proceed with figuring out how to scratch that itch or take it away.

Yesterday, I received a call from a precious lady from church who wanted to get some of her friends together to do a small Bible Study and wanted to know if I could help get them started. Well that's like wagging Drano in front of a meth head. I couldn't get in the car fast enough! What a blessing to meet with those ladies. A group of women, who..on their own...decided to study God's Word. Who ever heard of that!!??!! Not me, well not in a long time. Just being in the room with them humbled me and blessed my heart.

So as I'm moving forward with what I believe God has called me to do, it's different for me than it has been in the past. In the (sort of recent)past, I've been condemned, judged and found wanting by people who didn't even know me and it's given me a case of ministerial "yips." So I'm asking those of you who read this blog to pray for me as I try to figure out where God is leading and how to best follow Him.

The itch is growing and it''s not going away. Sweet!

Is it too much to ask? Why yes...yes it is!

I wish businesses would decide to operate on my schedule. Who do I speak to to make this happen? My day has already been frustrating a little bit because I can't get the rest of the world to bend to my will.

I needed to take the dog to the groomer this morning...they won't work on my schedule, they require Copper be there by 8, whether I have tired head or not. So I drag myself out of bed at a positively unhealthy and ungodly 7 am. I'm a night person so that means I'm going to be cranky today. Because while more sensible people would go to bed at a reasonable hour, let's be honest, I'm not that girl. That's the privilege of my pretty, pretty, princess life. I get to set my own schedule. Usually. I also needed to get the oil changed. No problem, I say to myself, they're in the same parking lot as the vet. This will be cake. Not so much. They don't open until 8am and I was there at 7:45 watching them enjoy life, laugh, smoke ciggys, tell jokes and ignore me. UGH! They asked me to leave and come back in 15 minutes. I chose to come home and blog a bit instead. Oil still hasn't been changed so I have to go back.

SO this is how I would like to propose my day go when we have to do this dance again, but first let me introduce you to the cast of characters:(I've interspersed some of their real characteristics which you will notice disappear once we get into the ideal day...lest you get confused.)

Manny, Moe or Jack: Interchangeable tattooed up, chain smoking, can't be flirted into a discount, oil change persons from here on out to be referred to as "MMJ."

JenniferJessicaTiffanyHeatherWeHateHer: Ultra perky, cute, skinny, better hi-lights than me, vet tech who loves my doggies, takes evil delight in telling me what all is "due," shotwise that I was unaware of,
and adding an extra $100 to my bill, but is ambivalent about my night person-age. From here on out to be referred to as "JJTHWHH" Nah, let's go with just "WHH."

Skippy or Scooter or Chipper: Interchangeable imaginary grocery boy who is almost certainly of Greek descent and "Stamos-ish" and will insert himself into my day as needed to bring my groceries over to the vet/oil change place so I don't have to get out and trouble my pretty little head with such a trivial thing as groceries, which are already my sworn and mortal enemy. Groceries come with implied work. Except Little Debbie, who we love/hate...but I digress. We love "SSC."

SO, this is how things SHOULD work:

Me: ring, ring. (I'm calling to make an appointment. It would be absurd to expect them to read my mind and just "know" wouldn't it? I'm almost sure it would.)
WHH: Hello, Your Highness. We've been looking forward to your call. When would you like to bring in your sweet doggy at our expense? Can we book you a complimentary day at the day spa down the road? We'd love to treat you just for the privilege of doing business with you.
Me: Well, I'm a little sleepy so I'd like to roll in "around" 10am-ish but I'm going to be really lazy today and it will probably be 10 pm before I remember to pick up my precious angel doggy. I'd prefer to skip the spa. Too much touching (another story for another day.)Will you please come over and pick him up from me at the oil change place?
WHH: My pleasure!
Me: Kthanksbye!

WHH calls over to oil chage place.
WHH: Hey MMJ, Queen Donna will be rolling in there "around" 10-ish. Please be sure you've moved all of your other customers out and extinguished your cigarettes in advance so we don't have a repeat of the "asthma incident." Flash the light twice when she gets there and I'll personally skip on over and get precious Copper so she doesn't ever have to exit her vehicle. Please notify the other interchangeable ones that this is not an appropriate time for a break.
MMJ: You betcha! We live for visits from the Queen. I'll call up SSC and have him get the grocery list and run it on over when she gets here.
WHH: We're a well oiled machine! Thank you MMJ. Kthanksbye!

MMJ calls over to down the road grocery store.
MMJ: Hey, SSC. The Queen is going to bless us with a visit in the morning-ish. Will you check with her to see if there is anything they need over at Casa Lawson. Have it ready and bring it over "around" 10.
SCC: Sure thing, MMJ.
MMJ: Kthanksbye.

SSC send me a text that says:
"Your highness,it would be my pleasure to deliver whatever you need from my grocery store while you are having the oil changed. It would make my day if you would allow it to be our gift to you. No charge and we're going to set you up an a weekly Dr. Pepper home delivery service."
Me: Thanks!!

Now, I know this SEEMS to be a lot to ask, but I can dream, can't I? Isn't this what my congressperson is supposed to do for me? Let's make it happen!

*Crazy use of run-on "sentences" intentional.

Also, it should go without saying, but I'm putting MMJ ON NOTICE for not working me in before they opened. If I'm there and they are there, clock it in and let's get it done. Just saying.

I've included a gratuitous picture of Copper who is an actual maniacle-evil genius dog, but is also too cute for color tv! Also, yes, he did drag his blue bed onto the top of Teddy, the giant Beagle dog's bed claiming ownership of both. Seriously. What a diva!

Sports...Church...Sports...WHY?

My poor blog! It must be wondering where I've gone. Well I'm here. Like Winnie-the Pooh, I've just been thinking in my thinking spot. I asked on my Twitter page for some ideas because I was plum out of ideas and got a few good suggestions. The first one is probably not going to go the way you're expecting, but what can I say...it's what's on my heart.

The idea was to write about fanatical sports parents. I'm sure it was to put my usual sarcastic/humorous/ tell-it-like-it-is spin on it....but I can't. I'm sure you'll understand why by the end. I'm going to preach instead. (Yeah...what's new?) Besides parents know if they are behaving badly. They're ON NOTICE!! You can tell them I said so.

*Disclaimer: I'm using the example of sports below, but it is just the word I'm using for anything that interferes with the time you would spend at Church and with your Church family or your time with Christ.*

I noticed a trend when I used to teach in Children's ministries at church and it was even more pronounced when I worked in youth. The trend? Sporting events were being held during the times that used to be reserved for families to attend church. Back in my day, Wednesday evenings and Sundays in entirety were off limits. But not anymore. So attendance at church was dependent on sports. I didn't understand because I have different rules here at Casa Lawson. My children played sports for a while, soccer and softball, and Ashley went to Nationals for Tumble & Trampoline but we wouldn't put either a game or a practice in front of church. I just wouldn't budge and it was respected every time and many parents thanked me for having that boundary so they didn't have to worry about making tough decisions.

In my Bible Study classes it was a topic that was often discussed and moms would tell me that the kids wouldn't always get to play sports, but they would always be able to go to Church. God would still be there, right? Besides...little Joey/Judy/ is a natural and wayyy more talented than your average bear and is going to go pro for sure and at the minimum is going to get a fabulous scholarship. Boy am I old fashioned. They felt they had taught their kids to love Jesus and that love wasn't dependent on Church attendance. True. I give them that. I would give them some scripture :"Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching." Hebrews 10:25 * Crickets. Nothing! No one got it. So eventually I let it go. I try not to judge and I'm not raising their kids. It's really not my business, I told myself. I regret it. (Side note: Ashley got a fabulous scholarship. Not for her fabulous athletic talent, but for being a ...SCHOLAR. That's right. She did most of her homework. Just saying.)

Now if asked that same question, I would still go back to the Word, but I would also tell this story. This is not one Mom or one child, but I assure you it is a compilation of several conversations I've had with several moms who I believe would share this with you if they could. Like a novelist sometimes does, I'm molding them into one "character" for the sake of anonymity and timeliness. I wouldn't dare tell their private stories, they aren't mine to tell but I will share a bit of what haunts them with you. Let's call her, "Jane."

What is haunting Jane? The loss of a child. By the child's own hand. You understand what I'm saying. The worst thing you can imagine, these moms have walked through and come out on the other side, broken, scarred, wounded, changed and they are ferocious survivors but with a few regrets. Of course Jane is in no way to blame. Jane and Joe loved this child passionately and gave her everything. They gave the child boundaries and rules and chores and gifts and family and everything else a child needs. They took the child to church until sports or some other hobby/passion intervened. Then it always seemed there would be time later. This was not a child lacking for anything. Did people miss some clues? Probably but that isn't relevant to the story. What is relevant is this? Ask yourself: Who are the closest people to you child? Who are the most influential people in your child's life? What is your child learning is the most important thing in life TO YOU? If your child is struggling, who will he/she go to? Will they give godly advice or the advice of the world? Will they call you or decide to follow a child's wishes? Do they love your child like Jesus? Does your child have Christian friends? Be honest...are they really Christians or just say they are?

Almost without exception, Jane's kiddo was surrounded with people with the same interests into the same stuff, but not Christian friends. They were very serious about getting recruited and getting scholarships and going faster and pushing harder and being the best until the child cracked under whatever pressures children crack under breaking wide open the hearts of those who love them. I'm sure there were many other pressures and the sport or hobby in and of itself isn't to blame at all. The above questions though shine a light.

Could the child talk to a Christian Mom or friend, how about a Pastor or Youth Minister? Was there a previous relationship that would make the child feel safe and welcome to have such a conversation? Would they have understood what was going on? During my tenure working with youth girls, I can think of at least 5 who came to me with suicidal issues. The first one took me off guard so I passed it on to the youth minister and hoped he would handle it. He didn't, but the child took my advice and talked to her mom. After that, I have a no tolerance policy. I'll go with you, but we're going to talk to your parents and we're going to be sure they understand. Jane still loses sleep and she's wracked with questions she won't get answers to on this side of Heaven. Her heart will never be whole. Her family will never be complete again and she is left with a question in her heart that she dares not utter, "Did my child ever really truly know Jesus. Did she really put her faith in Him?" Because she can't remember the last time the child mentioned Jesus. She can't remember the last time they made that simple thing we call Church a priority. They meant to. They had good intentions.

If you don't have a Church home, I'd love to invite you to mine. One of the most important things to us (aside from doctrinal issues of course...you know me) was to be sure our child was loved and could be comfortable with the leadership as well as make sure there were other parents who would love my child and give him GODLY advice should he need it. If he's in a crisis, I know his youth minister will be there for him at 3:30 am if he doesn't feel he can call on me. I know his pastor would do the same. His friends aren't all Christian but his best friends are and if something is amiss, I know their parents are watching out for him and I'm doing the same for them. We aren't playing! I'd rather be wrong and hated than keep my mouth shut and lose one more child. I hope I articulated this well. I hope you can see how such a simple thing can have such eternal consequences. The fact that God said it should be enough for us but let's be honest. Sometimes we need a reminder of why He said some of the things He said.

Please don't think I'm holding either myself or my children up an an example of perfection. I'll have to tell the truth and shame the Devil...we're far from it! I only used our rules because they're the ones I'm familiar with. I'd love to hear your feedback. Do you agree or disagree? Do you also have a story to tell?